Harrison, Reitz cruise into Class 4A sectional title game

JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS
Central students toss their newspapers into the air after using them while the Reitz team was introduced before their game in the North Class 4A boys sectional at North High School Friday.$RETURN$$RETURN$

2013 Jason Clark

JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS
(File Photo) Harrison head coach Bryan Speer gets a little help with restraining himself from one of his assistant coaches after a questionable call during the third quarter of the their game in the North Class 4A boys sectional at North High School. Harrison won the game 69-56 to advance. Harrison head coach Bryan Speer yells to his team during a March 2 game. Speer was named District 3 Coach of the Year.

2013 Jason Clark

JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS
North’s Mike Johnson catches more than an earful from Harrison students as he waits for play to resume during a stoppage in the third quarter of the game in the North Class 4A boys sectional at North High School Friday. Harrison won the game 69-56 to advance.$RETURN$$RETURN$

2013 Jason Clark

JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS
Jacob Norman of Reitz goes up high to block a shot by Central's Darius Sherman during the first quarter of the their game in the North Class 4A boys sectional at North High School Friday.$RETURN$$RETURN$

2013 Jason Clark

JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS
Harrison’s Stanley Duncan tries to drive to the basket between North’s Jaylen Chambers, left, and Austin Elmore during the first quarter of the their game in the North Class 4A boys sectional at North High School Friday. Harrison won the game 69-56 to advance.$RETURN$$RETURN$

2013 Jason Clark

JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS
Mario Barnes of Reitz puts up a shot before Central’s Andrew Coffman during the first quarter of the their game in the North Class 4A boys sectional at North High School Friday.$RETURN$$RETURN$

2013 Jason Clark

JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS
Harrison’s De’Niko Scott loses control of the ball for a moment before recovering it as North’s Mike Johnson plays defense during the fourth quarter on Friday. Harrison won the sectional semifinal 69-56.$RETURN$$RETURN$

2013 Jason Clark

Harrison and Reitz had more in common than wins Friday night in the Class 4A North Sectional 16 semifinals.

Both the boys' basketball teams advanced because they defended better than their opponents to set up today's 7 p.m. final in Huskie Gym.

But there was one departure. It was no surprise that Harrison (21-1) beat North 69-56, a team it had already beaten twice, but it was far from a sure thing that Reitz (13-9) would ease past Central 78-69.

After all, the Bears (14-8) had stunned Castle 74-68 on Tuesday while Reitz had the luxury to rest, watch and plan.

"They have a very good point guard in Kourtlandt Martin," said Reitz coach Michael Adams. "He's capable of taking over a game."

Martin had scored 24 points against the Knights, but only had seven points through three quarters Friday against the Panthers and finished with 14 when the Bears were forced to play catch-up late.

"Mario Barnes and Malik Higgins did a very good job on Martin, and we mixed our defenses to keep them off balance," said Adams. "Then we stayed at home with their shooters and they didn't hurt us."

Jalen Bender got loose for 26 points and 11 rebounds and Beau Dedmond added 16 points and 12 rebounds, but both did most of their damage inside as the Bears hit just three of 16 3-pointers.

The Panthers countered by taking control over the last five minutes of the second quarter with an 18-6 run. Then Central never got closer than four points as Jaelan Sanford led the Reitz attack with 28 points.

Now Adams has to switch gears to get ready for Harrison, which won an earlier meeting 83-71 in the Warriors' gym.

"We're going to have to do two things better this time," he said. "Defend and rebound."

In the first game, North (12-9) got off to a fast start, weathered a Harrison rush and answered with an 8-0 run for a 13-9 lead.

But the Warriors came back with an 8-0 run of their own to

take the lead for good as the Huskies would spend the rest of the game playing catch-up.

"There were times we were careless with the ball and our shot selection could've been better," said Harrison coach Bryan Speer. "But I thought our guys matched their intensity throughout.

"Now we've got that tough turnaround, but we've played Friday and Saturday a lot this year to get ready for this. We're going to have to be honest defensively against a team like Reitz."